[A+] Legco passes race discrimination bill

The Legislative Council on Thursday passed the Race Discrimination Bill after lawmakers succeeded in striking out a controversial clause exempting language discrimination.

The bill had been controversial -€“ with conservative critics arguing it was unnecessary -€“ but with supporters saying such a law was long overdue to protect minority groups and bring Hong Kong's anti-discrimination laws into line with other countries and United Nations requirements.

A number of minority groups -€“ including Indians, Pakistanis and Filipinos in the past have complained about unfair treatment at work or from government departments. Some mainland Chinese have also claimed to be victims of discrimination.

But Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Stephen Lam Sui-lung stressed on Thursday that different ethnic groups would benefit from the bill.

“We will have a new situation in Hong Kong whereby different ethnic groups will feel that they are being better served,” he said.

He said the new law was needed to make Hong Kong a modern, international city.

“The government has every intention of creating an environment in which both Chinese and other ethnic groups will feel very much that they are part of the international community of Hong Kong -€“ Asia's world city,” he said.

Asked if the outcome was a surprise for the government, Mr Lam said: “The passage marks a major milestone in the provision of services and statutory provisions regarding anti-discrimination protection for ethnic minorities in Hong Kong.”

However, Mr Lam, did not elaborate when asked whether the bill would be passed into law in its current form, local radio reported.

Recent debates on the bill in the Legislative Council have focused on language discrimination. Amendments raised by the Bills Committee chairwoman Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee addressed these concerns — but this week, Ms Ng's amendments were voted down, amid impassioned debate.

But Ms Ng's amendment on language did garnet the support of the unionists. During a debate over an amendment which had aimed to remove an exemption on language discrimination, lawmaker Wong Kwok-hing, of the Federation of Trade Unions, said: “Ensuring ethnic minorities are given fair treatment with regards to their language is a fundamental requirement of a racial discrimination law. I support Ms Ng's amendment.”

While the amendments were rejected, enough legislators voted for the bill without the controversial exemptions allowing the bill to be passed. But Ms Ng was still unhappy that other clauses that allow the government in certain situations not to be sued for discriminatory behaviour, were still going through in the passed bill.

She said it was still an inadequate bill and the government would need to do more to help provide services for people in ethnic minorities. Census figures shows that about 95 per cent of Hong Kong's population is of Chinese descent — the majority of which are Cantonese.

The remaining five per cent is made up of South Asians. This includes Sindhis, Indians, Pakistanis and Nepalese. Some Vietnamese refugees have also become permanent residents.

There are also approximately 140,000 Filipinos working in the territory, mainly as domestic helpers. Some domestic helpers are also from Indonesia.

There are also Europeans, Americans, Australians, Canadians, Japanese, and Koreans working in various sectors, mainly in commerce, finance and education.

SCMP. Jul. 10, 2008.